Chapter 39: Chapter 39 She Does Not Beg, Nor Will She Suffer Indignity!_1 Chapter 39: Chapter 39 She Does Not Beg, Nor Will She Suffer Indignity!_1 As soon as An Jing was carried out of Wanbu Pavilion by Xiao Changyi, she took out a purse and dangled it in front of him, “Xiao Changyi, would it be nice if I gave you a purse?”
An Jing was taken aback by his unexpected refusal and could only laugh, “Why not?”
Xiao Changyi remained silent.
An Jing took back the purse and seeing that Xiao Changyi wasn’t speaking, teased, “What if it was a purse I embroidered for you, then would it be nice?”
An Jing immediately felt sweetness in her heart. After a pause, she playfully said, “But the purse I embroider might not look good…”
Xiao Changyi said, “I wouldn’t disdain it.”
“Pfft—” An Jing couldn’t help but laugh. “Given how much you seem to want a purse that I’ve embroidered, I will find an opportunity to learn and embroider one for you when we return.”
She actually got a nod from the man. How could he be so endearingly aloof? It was simply unfair. An Jing suddenly had the urge to pinch Xiao Changyi’s face, to tease his chin, and to get him to smile at her once more.
But there was a problem…
An Jing glanced around and saw that everyone was giving her and Xiao Changyi looks that suggested impropriety; she thus abandoned the thought.
If she were to tease Xiao Changyi at this time and place, who knows how stirred up the crowd might get. It would be better to stay proper and not cause a scene that would be difficult to manage.
To prevent herself from impulsively teasing Xiao Changyi in public, An Jing quickly changed the subject, “The clerk from Wanbu Pavilion just now didn’t seem like an ordinary clerk at all—he could use an abacus and handled money transactions. Shouldn’t those be the shopkeeper’s duties? But I noticed there doesn’t seem to be a designated shopkeeper there; it appears the clerks manage everything themselves…”
Xiao Changyi slightly shook his head, indicating he wasn’t quite sure either.
“If they’re doing the shopkeeper’s work, their wages must be higher than the average clerk’s,” An Jing spoke again, pondering to herself.
Xiao Changyi stayed quiet.
An Jing knew Xiao Changyi was listening and had grown accustomed to his often silent, wordless manner. At this moment, the atmosphere between the two was not at all awkward. In fact, it felt extremely natural, almost as if they had been together for a very long time.
Staring at Xiao Changyi’s profile, An Jing smiled and a phrase naturally came to mind: May all the years be peaceful and content.
“Where are we going now?” An Jing asked.
Xiao Changyi replied, “We are going to find a carpenter to make a bed.”
There were two carpentry shops in town, and Xiao Changyi took An Jing directly to the one farthest from Wanbu Pavilion. An Jing didn’t ask any questions, but it was clear that Xiao Changyi was very familiar with the town, presumably knowing that the carpenter’s prices were fair.
After negotiating with the carpenter, An Jingxin thought: Indeed, very fair.
Of course, it was still more expensive than having the village carpenter make it.
To craft an ordinary frame bed, the carpenter’s fee was thirty-five coins, using locust wood which cost an additional twenty coins, amounting to a total of fifty-five coins.
If it were made in the village, Xiao Changyi could cut the locust wood from the mountain himself, so there would be no need to buy it.
And Carpenter Zheng in the village would only charge twenty-six coins for his labor.
But Carpenter Zheng was unwilling to make it for them. Expect An Jing to grovel and beg Carpenter Zheng to make their bed? In your dreams!
At this moment, An Jing truly did not regret coming to town to have the bed made. She would rather spend a little more money than beg someone else or endure any grievances.
Seeing Xiao Changyi pay the carpenter quite generously, the corners of An Jing’s mouth lifted infinitely. It seemed her man was also unwilling for her to beg or suffer grievances…